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The Importance of Understanding and Teaching Islamic Law in Asia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2015

Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod*
Affiliation:
International IslamicUniversity Malaysia
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Abstract

This paper will deal with the need to understand Islamic Law in the context of a number of prevailing misconceptions about it. It then discusses the place and importance of Islamic Law in the LL.B. (Bachelor of Law) programmes in Malaysia and elsewhere in Asia. The focus will be on what courses are to be taught, and how they are to be taught. The paper also attempts to shed some light on the possible ways to harmonise Islamic Law with concurrent secular (or civil) law, and offers a vision of the future of Islamic legal education.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore 2014

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References

1 The case of the British in the 17th century Malaysia agreed in the various treaties with the Malay rulers for a non-interference stance on issues on “Islamic law and Malay customs”.

2 In Harvard Law School, Islamic Legal System is an elective course for its LL.B programme, online: <http://www.harvard.edu/academics/registrar/catalog/publication/courses.html> (6 October 2005). In SOAS, Islamic law is an elective subject for its LL.B programme as well, see online: <http://www.soas.uk/department/departmentinfo.cfm?> (6 October 2005).

3 Public execution in Saudi Arabia and public caning for consuming alcohol in Pakistan or for fornication in Acheh, Indonesia and a female Muslim who was sentenced to death in Nigeria for fornication are some of the punishments that received worldwide coverage as well as condemnation.

4 Faraz Fareed Rabbani, “Shariah: The clear path”, online: Islam Online.net <http://www.Islamionline.net/livedialogue/english/browse.asp?hGuest> (2 September 2005).

5 Ibid.

6 Qur'an, 17:9.

7 Qur'an, 5:15.

8 Qur'an, 16:44.

9 Qur'an, 4:59.

10 Ibrahim, Ahmad, “Superiority of the Islamic System of Justice” (1994) 4 International Islamic University L.J. 1 at. 3 Google Scholar.

11 Ramadan, Sa'id, Islamic Law, Its Scope and Equity (Kuala Lumpur: Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia, 1992), Part II, Chapter 2, p. 64fGoogle Scholar.

12 Faraz Fareed Rabbani, supra note 4.

13 Ibid.

14 See Wiechman, Dennis, Kendall, Jerry D., Azarian, Mohammad K., “Islamic law: Myths and realities”, online: IIUM. Net (International Islamic University) <http://www.acsp.uic.edu/oicj/pubs/cji/120313.htm> (29 September 2005)+(29+September+2005)>Google Scholar.

15 See Othman, Mahmud Saedon Awang, “Islamic Law and its Codification” (1989) 1 International Islamic University L.J. 51 Google Scholar.

16 See for instance writings by Shacht, Joseph, Introduction to Islamic law (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1964)Google Scholar, Mayer, Anne Elizabeth, Islam and Human Rights: Tradition and Politics (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1991)Google Scholar. The other views as presented by, for instance, Said, Edward, Orientalism (Harmmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1978)Google Scholar and Esposito, John L., The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?, (New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992)Google ScholarPubMed.

17 John Strawson, Encountering Islamic law, online: IIUM.net (International Islamic University Malaysia) <http://www.uel.ac.uk/faculties/socsci/law/jsrps.html> (2 September 2005), p. 2.

18 Ibn Qayyim in A'lam quoted from Ahmad Ibrahim, supra note 10.

19 Bari, Abdul Aziz, “Legal Education and Islamization” (1999) 7 International Islamic University L.J. 83 Google Scholar.

20 Ibid.

21 Sections 3 and 5, Civil Law Act 1956 (Malaysia).

22 See Mahmud Saedon Awang Othman, supra note 15.

23 The concept of diyat or blood money is unique in Islamic law. Likewise in the Qur'an, God says retribution is the punishment for the wrongdoer, but if the person pardons him, he will be rewarded.

24 Kamali, Mohammad Hashim, “Maqasid Al-Shari'ah: The Objectives of Islamic Law1999 Vol. 2, No. 38 Islamic Studies 195, at 198 Google Scholar.

25 Ibid.

26 Ibid.

27 Abu al-‘A’la Mawdudi, “Human Rights in Islam” al Tawhid Journal, Vol. IV, No. 3, Rajab-Ramadhan 1407, online: IIUM.net International Islamic University Malaysia <http://www2.iiu.edu.my/deed/articles/html> (30 September 2005).

28 Qur'an, 5:32.

29 Qur'an, 51:19.

30 Abu a’-‘A’la Mawdudi, supra note 27.

31 Qur'an, 49:13.

32 Louay M. Safi, “Human Rights and Islamic legal reform”, online: IIUM.net International Islamic University Malaysia <http://www2.iiu.edu.my/deed/articles/html> (30 September 2005).

33 Ibid. See Mayer, Ann Elizabeth, Islam and Human Right: Tradition and Practice, 2nd ed. (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1995)Google Scholar.

34 Louay Safi went on to refer other critics namely Howard, Rhoda, Human Rights and the Search for Community (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1995)Google Scholar and An-Na'im, Abdulllahi Ahmad, Toward an Islamic Reformation (Syracuse University Press, 1990)Google Scholar.

35 Louay Safi, supra note at 3-4.

36 Ibid.

37 His emphasis.

38 Ibid at 6.

39 John Strawson, “Encountering Islamic Law”, online: <http://www.uel.ac.uk/faculties/socsci/law/jsrps.html or http://www2.iiu.edu.my/deed/articles.html> (14 November 2005)

40 The translation by Khadduri, Majid, The Islamic Law of Nations, Shaybani's Siyar (Baltimore, Maryland: The John Hopkins Press, 1966)Google Scholar.

41 John Strawson, supra note 39.

42 Weeramantry, C.G., Islamic Jurisprudence: An International Perspective (London: MacMillan Press, 1988) at 149 CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

44 Ibid at 150.

44 Ibrahim, Ahmad, “Superiority of the Islamic System of Justice” (1994) 4 International Islamic University Malaysia L.J. 1 Google Scholar.

45 Abdulmumini Adebayo Oba, “Islam, the West and Human Rights: Towards Reconciling the Divergences” Paper presented at the International Conference on Harmonisation of Shari'ah and Civil Law, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 29-30 June 2005.

46 See generally, Mahmud Saedon Awang Othman, supra note 15.

47 Sudin Haron, “Towards developing a successful Islamic financial system: a lesson from Malaysia”, a paper presented in the Conference on “The Thinking of Dr. Mahathir Mohammad”, organised by University Utara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 2-3 August 2005.

48 Ibid.

49 Ibid.

50 The ninth schedule of the Federal Constitution namely List II - State List provides among others; “creation and punishment of offences by persons professing the religion of Islam against precepts of that religion, except in regard to matters included in the Federal List…”

51 Federal Constitution of Malaysia, article 121 (1) reads: “There shall be two High Courts of coordinate jurisdiction and status.” Clause (1A) reads: “The courts referred to in Clause (1) shall have no jurisdiction in respect of matter within the jurisdiction of the Syariah courts.”

52 “Islamisation of Laws in Pakistan”. The Presidential Address delivered by Honourable Justice Gul Mohammad Khan, Chief Justice Federal Shariah Court of Pakistan on 29 March 1986. Second Session, Fifth Pakistan Jurist Conference, Karachi.

53 Article 3 of the Federal Constitution puts Islam as the religion of the Federation but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.

54 Mohammad Hashim Kamali, Shari'ah and Civil Law: Towards A Methodology of Harmonisation. A paper presented in the International Conference on Harmonisation of Shari'ah and Civil Law. International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 20-21 October 2003.

55 Kamali, Mohammad Hashim, “Harmonisation of Shari'ah and Civil Laws: The Framework and Modus operandi” (2003) 11 International Islamic University L. J. 149 Google Scholar.

56 Ibid.

57 Bindra, S.S., Politics of Islamisation with Special Rreference to Pakistan (New Delhi: Deep & Deep Publications, 1990) at 117 Google Scholar.

58 Mohammad Hashim Kamali, supra note 54.